James Smith Podcast: Last News

Frankie Cocozza, best-known for rising to fame on The X Factor, has claimed he was once paid £1,100 to kiss Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan.During an appearance on The James Smith Podcast, Frankie – who appeared on the ITV series in 2011 before being ejected from the competition – recalled a photo that was once taken of him and Holly sharing a kiss during a night out in London over a decade ago.Describing Holly, 29, as ‘lovely’, Frankie, 29, said that he was encouraged to reach out to her after she tweeted about him while he was on The X Factor, despite being unaware who she was other than the fact that she was on TV.While at a party, the singer recalled the reality star saying to him: ‘Frank, I’ve just been talking to my manager, and basically he’s willing to give you 1500 quid in cash if we can have a photo outside getting off with each other.’Frankie, who is currently the lead singer of pop-rock band the Telescreen, explained that he thought the amount sounded ‘mind-blowing’ at the time and so he agreed, with their exchange occurring after week one on the show.He said that when he went outside, a man turned up and said he could give him £1,100, promising the remaining £400 on a cheque, which the musician claimed later bounced.‘He’s literally standing behind this car door taking photos of us, and I’m just necking off with her against a wall in the middle of London,’ the musician recollected.The following day, Frankie appeared on The Xtra Factor, while his kiss with Holly had appeared on the front pages of the newspapers.‘It’s all over the papers.